Forestry Mulching vs. Bush Hogging: What’s the Difference and Which Is Best for Your Land?

Prime Habitat Management
Nov 1
3 min read

Understanding the Basics: Two Common Land Clearing Methods

When your property becomes overgrown, you’ve got options — and two of the most common are forestry mulching and bush hogging. Both can reclaim land, manage vegetation, and improve your property’s appearance. But they work very differently, and choosing the right one depends on your goals.

At Prime Habitat Management, we help landowners across Northern Illinois and the Starved Rock region make informed decisions for their land — whether you’re restoring native habitat, prepping for construction, or simply maintaining property.

What Is Bush Hogging?

Tractor with rotary mower bush hogging a pasture in Illinois

Bush hogging, also known as rotary mowing or brush cutting, uses heavy-duty spinning blades to cut through tall grass, weeds, and light brush. It’s typically performed with a tractor or skid steer using a rotary cutter attachment.

Best Uses for Bush Hogging:

Maintaining pastures, CRP fields, and open acreage
Keeping fence lines, trails, and roadways clear
Managing seasonal overgrowth
Providing routine maintenance between mulching cycles

Bush hogging is fast, affordable, and ideal for maintaining open or lightly overgrown land. However, it only cuts vegetation at the surface — it doesn’t remove roots or stop regrowth. Areas with thick brush or small trees will quickly grow back.

What Is Forestry Mulching?

Skid steer with forestry mulcher clearing overgrown brush and small trees

Forestry mulching is a one-step land clearing process that cuts, grinds, and shreds vegetation into natural mulch on the spot. Using specialized equipment with a spinning drum of carbide teeth, forestry mulching can handle brush, saplings, and trees up to 8 inches in diameter.

Best Uses for Forestry Mulching:

Reclaiming wooded or overgrown property
Restoring native prairie and oak savanna habitats
Removing invasive species like honeysuckle or buckthorn
Clearing building sites, trails, food plots, and fence lines
Reducing erosion by leaving a layer of protective mulch

Forestry mulching is eco-friendly and efficient — there’s no burning, hauling, or multiple steps. The mulch left behind helps prevent erosion, retain soil moisture, and improve soil health over time.

Forestry Mulching vs. Bush Hogging: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Bush Hogging	Forestry Mulching
Vegetation size	Up to 2” diameter	Up to 8”+ diameter
Terrain	Flat, open ground	Uneven, wooded, or brushy terrain
End result	Mowed vegetation	Ground cover of natural mulch
Regrowth	Rapid	Slower, mulch suppresses regrowth
Soil impact	Minimal disturbance	Enriches soil, prevents erosion
Cleanup	No Cleanup Needed	May Require Hauling
Cost	Lower upfront	Longer-lasting results

Which Method Is Right for You?

The right method depends on your property and goals:

Choose Bush Hogging if you’re maintaining open fields, pastures, or agricultural land. It’s quick, clean, and cost-effective.
Choose Forestry Mulching if you’re reclaiming overgrown woods, tackling invasive brush, or preparing a site for future use.

Many landowners start with forestry mulching to open up dense growth and follow up with bush hogging for seasonal maintenance.

Professional Land Clearing in Northern Illinois

At Prime Habitat Management, we use the right tools for every job — from high-horsepower skid steers to forestry mulchers and heavy-duty brush cutters. We serve homeowners, farmers, and property managers across the Starved Rock and Illinois Valley area, helping transform overgrown land into usable, beautiful, and healthy habitats.

🌿 Locally owned and operated💪 Specialized in forestry mulching, brush removal, and land restoration📍 Serving Northern Illinois, LaSalle County, and surrounding regions